Aklak Air discontinued its flight service between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk on Friday, Feb. 9, according to Ken Dalton, the airlineSA国际影视传媒檚 general manager.

Aklak Air is the only airline that offers flight service between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince the opening of the [Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway] the scheduled service was actually reduced from two to three flights daily down to one flight daily,SA国际影视传媒� Dalton said. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, the significant decline in demand doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 even warrant one flight a week.SA国际影视传媒�

However, if the highway were to be closed for a significant period of time, Aklak Air would resume operating scheduled flights while the road is closed, Dalton said.

SA国际影视传媒淔or planned closures, we could be ready to go (for) as few as one day of closure,SA国际影视传媒� Dalton said. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, for sudden unplanned closures, flights may take a day or more to be scheduled around other commitments already booked for the aircraft.SA国际影视传媒�

Notice of the cancellation was posted in several community Facebook groups. Some community members expressed their frustration with the announcement in the comments section.

One commenter and part-time resident of Tuktoyaktuk, Doris Sabatier, wrote, SA国际影视传媒淩educed service is one thing (and understandable), but no service is quite another.SA国际影视传媒�

Other commenters noted they were concerned that residents may not be able to leave Tuktoyaktuk quickly in an emergency situation.

Medevac service will continue to be available in the community.

Sabatier said the discontinuation of service was a surprise.

SA国际影视传媒淚 figured that it would be reduced, as I know a lot of people were looking forward to driving the highway,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 think they would totally cancel it. What about tourists?SA国际影视传媒�

She said with flight service, tourists have more options, as renting cars in Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk is not always an option.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat just leaves taking a taxi, or if you happen to know someone with a car,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you want to go to Tuk and youSA国际影视传媒檙e a tourist and you donSA国际影视传媒檛 know anybody there, it will be difficult.SA国际影视传媒�

Other commenters wrote that the discontinuation of service is understandable as the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway is sufficient for travelling between the communities.